Yogi Adityanath Criticizes Language Row in Tamil Nadu, Cites Political Motives:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the controversy surrounding Hindi in Tamil Nadu and similar states is being pushed by leaders with narrow political interests. Speaking to PTI, Adityanath highlighted that several Indian languages, including Tamil and Telugu, are already being taught in schools across Uttar Pradesh, resulting in job creation rather than any reduction in the state's cultural identity.

“In UP, we teach Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, and Marathi. Has this made UP any less significant? No. We are seeing new job opportunities emerging,” he stated. He further accused political leaders of fueling the language debate to advance personal political goals, which, according to him, negatively affects youth employment.

Continued Criticism of Tamil Nadu Leadership

This is not the first time CM Yogi has commented on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's stance. In a recent interview with ANI, he accused Stalin of attempting to divide people along regional and linguistic lines due to concerns about losing electoral support.

Congress Demands Clarity on Tamil Teaching in UP

In response, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram questioned the UP government’s claims about teaching Tamil in its schools. Posting on X with the hashtag #StopHindiImposition, he asked for official data on the number of Tamil teachers and student enrollments for Tamil in Uttar Pradesh.

He also pointed out that migrant workers from northern states who come to Tamil Nadu typically lack any knowledge of Tamil. "There is no reason for students in Tamil Nadu to compulsorily learn Hindi," Chidambaram wrote.

Stalin Raises Concerns Over Withheld Education Funds

The language debate intensified after the central government withheld ₹2,152 crore allocated under the Samagra Shiksha scheme for Tamil Nadu, citing the state’s non-compliance with the National Education Policy (NEP). Chief Minister Stalin addressed the issue in a letter to the Prime Minister, urging the release of funds critical to the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act in the state.